Noel Gerson Explained

Noel Bertram Gerson (1913–1988) was an American author who wrote 325 books, including several best sellers, among them two screenplay novelizations penned under the pseudonym Samuel Edwards, The Naked Maja, and 55 Days at Peking.[1] [2] [3]

Aside from "Samuel Edwards", which would seem to have been his dedicated by-line for tie-in work, Gerson used the following nine pseudonyms in addition to his own name: Anne Marie Burgess; Michael Burgess; Nicholas Gorham; Paul Lewis; Leon Phillips; Donald Clayton Porter; Dana Fuller Ross; Philip Vail; and Carter A. Vaughan.[4] [5]

Life

He was the son of Sam Gerson, who directed the Shubert theaters in Chicago. Gerson attended the University of Chicago, and served as the campus correspondent for the Chicago Herald-Examiner. Following graduation, he became a reporter at the paper. He later joined Chicago-based WGN as a publicity writer, subsequently becoming its talent director and main scriptwriter.[6] After his World War II military experience in Army intelligence, he began writing TV scripts before beginning his career as an author in 1950. He and his wife Marilyn had a son and three daughters.[1] [2] [3]

Literary focus

Gerson's primary focus was on historical novels, mostly stand-alone, with American history receiving considerable attention. Of note, he wrote a number of historical novels about colonial America and also the United States in its formative years.

Gerson also wrote a large number of biographies and biographical novels. These included several on US presidents, such as Andrew Jackson, James Polk, and Theodore Roosevelt. Many of his biographic works also focused on notable women in history such as Empress Theodora of the Byzantine Empire; William the Conqueror's formidable wife, Matilda of Flanders; and Pocahantas.

During the latter stages of his career, Gerson wrote two series of American historical novels having characters that continued through the series. Using the pen name Dana Fuller Ross, the first was the popular twenty-four book Wagons West series that began in 1978 and is currently being republished. The first four books in this series describe the initial wagon train to Oregon beginning in 1837. Beginning in 1979, Gerson initiated a second series called White Indian using the pen name of Donald Clayton Porter. Set in the late 1600s, it portrays the life of Renno, a child of settlers, who was raised by the Seneca to become a senior warrior.[1] [2] [3]

Bibliography

Gerson was one of the most prolific writers of modern times, with over 150 books verifiably counted to his credit. His work can be divided into three major parts: standalone novels, including biographical ones; series novels, usually under a house pseudonym; and nonfiction. Besides his own name, he also wrote under several pen names.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Fiction:

The books in the Wagons West series (all as by Dana Fuller Ross):[14]

The first twelve books in the White Indian series (all as by Donald Clayton Porter):

Biographies and other non-fiction (juv=for juvenile audiences):

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prolific Writer Noel Gerson, 75. Heise, Kenan. November 24, 1988. Chicago Tribune. 2013-11-03.
  2. News: Noel Gerson, 75, dies; author of 325 books. November 23, 1988. New York Times. 2013-11-03.
  3. Peacock, Scott, Senior Editor (2000), Gales Contemporary Authors, Volume 82, pp. 143-146
  4. Hawk, Pat (1995), Hawk's Author's Pseudonyms II, p. 225
  5. Web site: Noel Bertram Gerson. Scribd. 2013-11-03.
  6. Noel Gerson . The Golden Age of Radio . Bertel . Dick . Corcoran . Ed . Broadcast Plaza, Inc. . WTIC Hartford, Conn. . September 1971 . 2 . 6 .
  7. Burke, W. J. and Howe, Will D. (1972), American Authors and Books: 1640 to the Present Day, pp. 241-242
  8. Web site: Order of Noel B. Gerson Books - OrderOfBooks.com . 2023-08-06 . www.orderofbooks.com.
  9. Web site: noel b. gerson - Search Results . 2023-08-06 . www.worldcat.org.
  10. Web site: vaughan, carter a. - Search Results . 2023-08-06 . www.worldcat.org.
  11. Web site: burgess, ann marie - Search Results . 2023-08-06 . www.worldcat.org.
  12. Web site: gorham, nicholas - Search Results . 2023-08-06 . www.worldcat.org.
  13. Lynda G. Adamson, World Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults. Greenwood Publishing Group (p. 34).
  14. Web site: The Wagons West Series by Dana Fuller Ross. NLS Minibibliographies. 2018-05-17.

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